The big guy wins this one for the second year in a row. Seriously, who wouldn't love to go bar hopping with the guv. He's gotta have a few good stories to tell. Mayor Chavez took second, and City Councilor Eric Griego and former city councilor turned Alibi columnist Greg Payne tied for fourth. To be fair Griego probably deserved one extra vote for the entry that said, “the guy who thinks he's funny,” but the judges said no. Of course, Payne learned the virtues of sobriety the hard way, so perhaps folks thought he might be useful as a designated driver.
Since we live in a city menaced by drunk drivers, it was only natural that this category elicited a fair amount of cynicism and ridicule. Other notable entries included: “The one who just got a D.W.I.,” “Hmm … there are so many drunks in politics,” and “Heather Wilson (TD's anyone?).”
Best Day Trip
Jemez is a perrenial favorite, and why not? We're blessed to have those mountains within an hour of town. Second place went to Santa Fe and third, Taos. While these generic responses were the overwhelming favorites, truth is, there are countless excursions that make living in Albuquerque one of the coolest places on the planet. For example, readers mentioned the ice caves near Grants, Bandelier Monument then dinner at Rancho de Chimayo, Fourth of July Canyon, Ghost Ranch, Chaco Canyon, Carlsbad Caverns, Bosque del Apache, Ojo Caliente, La Luz Trail and the Rio Grande Zoo.
Best Neon Sign
Surprise! Well, not exactly. It's a little known fact, but Albuquerque is one of the best places in the universe to marvel at trippy neon signs, and Scot's has won first place now for 10, count 'em, 10 years in a row. The Dog House and Flying Star finished second and third, respectively.
